Less than a week after Ramirez and his agent turned down a two-year, $45 million offer from the Dodgers, McCourt addressed the situation during a news conference prior to Sunday's inaugural spring training game at the team's Camelback Ranch complex.

"We're in what I call a transition phase right now," McCourt said. "We had a lengthy, almost four-month-long negotiation that terminated on Thursday. So now we're sort of in a quiet period. At some point, we'll pick up negotiations again, but with a fresh start this time."

McCourt also said that the Dodgers would not respond to Boras' most recent counter-proposal - a two-year, $45 million deal in which Ramirez would receive $25 million and have an opt-out clause for 2010.

After the news conference, Boras told MLB.com that talks with the Dodgers were "cordial and productive."

The mercurial outfielder turned down arbitration at the start of the offseason and also declined a two-year, $45 million deal at the winter meetings before dismissing a one-year, $25 million offer last month.

Ramirez hit .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI in 53 games with the Dodgers, who acquired the 12-time All-Star from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline last season.

The 36-year-old hit .332 with 37 homers and 121 RBI in 153 contests with the Dodgers and Red Sox in 2008.